Research Accomplishment Reports 2009

RREA Program

J.W. Stringer
Department of Forestry

 

Non-Technical Summary

Improving sustainable stewardship and the health of Kentucky s non-industrial private forestlands is paramount to improving the quality of life of Kentucky s 423,000 forest owners and the landscapes surrounding the majority of Kentucky s populace. One-half of Kentucky, 12 million acres, is forested. This resource provides the backdrop for the lives of many Kentuckians. The forest also provides abundant wildlife resources yielding $1.5 billion dollars to the economy and supports a forest industry with annual shipments of $6.4 billion, employing 37,500 Kentuckians in 112 of Kentucky s 120 counties. Threats to forest health and sustainability include the invasion of exotic species, mismanagement or benign neglect of forest resources and wildlife habitat, ineffective use of forest resources, and forest fragmentation and loss of habitats affects our potential to maintain sustainable life styles and a quality of life expected from every Kentuckian. Providing solutions for forest/natural resource problems and forest industries in the state are critical for maintaining strong and sustainable economies, protecting our natural resources, and providing for a sustainable life style for all Kentuckians.

The University of Kentucky s Cooperative Extension forestry program is focused on effectively delivering knowledge, insight, and solutions that address forest and forest-industry-related challenges affecting all Kentuckians.

2009 Project Description

RREA funded 270 individual educational events involving 8,664 individuals or businesses, the production of 1 magazine, 3 websites, 24 extension fact sheets or publications, 21 magazine articles, 3 book chapters, 4 applied research publications, 4 videos and the development and maintenance of 4 web sites. Indirect contacts resulted in awareness of forest and wildlife issues for 95,118 individuals.

Programming was focused in four subject areas including the enhancement of economic opportunities for non-industrial private forest owners and forest based communities, stewardship of Kentucky's forests, identification and control of invasive exotics, and the enhancement of wildlife resources. A total of 125 programs for 1,378 firms were conducted to enhance the economic opportunities for both woodland owners and rural forest industries. These included education and training of secondary wood industry personnel at the University of Kentucky's Wood Utilization Center, training programs for wood drying through the Ohio Valley Lumber Drying Association, the Railway Tie Association, other industry and trade association workshops, and logger training through the Kentucky Master Logger program.

A web-based searchable data base was developed to allow access to wood industry data in 2009. A total of 25,656 indirect contacts were also made aware of economic opportunities associated with woodlands through direct mailings and web offerings.

Forest stewardship was also a focus of extension programming with over 2,165 woodland owners being assisted through 39 education programs, 20 publications, and 2 website. Programs included 3 training programs for 130 technical assistance providers aimed at improving their ability to implement forest stewardship planning resulting in over 7,468 woodland owners assisted including the removal of exotic invasives. The majority of landowners were provided education through the Kentucky Woodland Owner Short Course, Fall Woodland Owner Webinar series, and County Forestry Programs, specifically designed to improve woodland owner's ability to implement practices associated with Stewardship Plans and impacting 221,204 acres. Three issues of the Kentucky Woodland Magazine were published and mailed to over 10,500 woodland owners and in total 190,685 indirect contacts were made aware of issues associated with woodland stewardship.

Wildlife resources were improved or enhanced through 18 programs for 1,039 individuals in the areas of urban wildlife management, enhancement and awareness of biodiversity, and environmental stewardship including the production of a book entitled "The Gift of Creation".

Awareness, education, and training in invasive species identification and control were provided by 3 magazine articles on invasive control, seven workshops provided to 388 woodland owners and technical assistance providers, and a total of 97,358 indirect contacts were provided information on invasive species through web and hardcopy materials.

2009 Impact

RREA programs resulted in a total of 1,378 businesses being assisted or created, 616 new jobs created, and 7,468 woodland owners being directly assisted. Over 221,204 acres were improved through direct woodland owner activities and 728,827 acres were positively impacted. Total fiscal impacts from RREA supported programming were primarily derived from logger and forest industry training. These firms provide income for 462 individuals (owners or employees) the majority in rural and semi-rural economies. These firms provide rural economies with $714,237,825 annually through the delivery and primary processing of timber they harvest and a total of 1.9 billion to rural economies through the production of finished wood products.

Annually Kentucky Master Loggers impact 257,383 acres of woodlands and harvest 952 million board feet of timber (or aligned products) providing over $143 million dollars in direct timber revenue to 7,132 landowners in Kentucky. 523 perennial streams and 1,441 intermittent streams were provided environmental protection from potential impacts of nonpoint source pollution from improper timber harvesting.

The Certified Master Logger Program resulted in 756,000 dollars earned for the 45 logging firms in the programs and a reduction in workers compensation insurance rates for these firms. Pre- and post-training testing indicated that loggers increased their knowledge by 73 percent in the subject areas presented. Further, this effort provided mandatory training for these logging businesses, without which the businesses would be shut down. Training for forest industry including drying and secondary manufacturing training provided 12.2 million dollars to rural economies in Kentucky and surrounding states. Forest industry training efforts resulted in assistance to 285 businesses.

Woodland owners (primarily family forest owners) were impacted positively from the Woodland Owners Short Course. This program is comprised of three regional short course programs. The overall goal of promoting the sustainable management of Kentucky's woodlands and 153 woodland owners attended the program representing more than 13,495 acres. 100 percent of the participants indicated they would use some of the knowledge gained from this program on 10,857 woodland acres.

The University of Kentucky, Forestry Extension developed the technical specifications and provided training for natural resource professionals that allowed for the establishment and implementation of a farm bill program for controlling exotic invasive species in Kentucky. The program was administered by the Natural Resource Conservation Service to provide practice payments for private landowners. Technical specification for survey methodology, cost payment schedules, and application methodologies, was developed for the program and training was provided to the Kentucky Division of Forestry personnel to administer the program. Over 6,000 acres were treated and over 175 landowners were provided with approximately 750,000 dollars in payments for assist with practice implementation.

2009 Publications

Ammerman, B., Fackler, C., Lowe, L., Metzger, T., and C. Nevins. 2008. Secondary Wood Industries of Kentucky, FORFS 07-18. 165pp.

Ammerman. B., Fackler, C., and J. Collins. 2009. Forestry Emerald Ash Borer, General Industry Note June 2009: The State of Kentucky Has Issued a Regional Quarantine on Ash Products and Hardwood Firewood. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry, FORFS 09-06, 2pp.

Ammerman, B., Stringer, J.W., and Fackler, C. 2009. Forestry Emerald Ash Borer, Industry Note August 2009: EAB Treatments for Ash Lumber, Firewood, Logs, and Sawmill Residuals. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry, FORFS 09-10. 3pp.

Ammerman, B., Stringer, J.W., Fackler, C. and T. Conners. 2009. Forestry Emerald Ash Borer, Industry Note August 2009: Shipping Ash Lumber and Other Ash Products. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry, FORFS 09-09. 3pp.

Banerjee, S., R. Yang, C. Courchene, and T.E. Conners. 2009. Scanning electron microscopy measurements of the surface roughness of paper. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 48(9): 4322 to 4325.

Conners, T.E. 2009. Identifying Wood Using A Microscope. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry, FORFS 09-11. 44 pp.

Conners, T.E. 2009. Insect Identification Guide for Senior 4H Forestry Competition Training. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky: 4DC-05PA. 62pp.

Fackler, C., Ammerman, B. 2009. Ohio Valley Lumber Drying Association Membership Directory 2008, FORFS 07-17.

Fei, S.L., Kong, K., Stringer, J., and D. Bowker. 2009. Invasion Pattern of Exotic Plants in Forest Ecosystems, pp. 59-69, In: Invasive Plants and Forest Ecosystems, Ed. Kohli, R.K., Jose, S., Singh, H.P., D.R. Batish. CRC Press, NY, USA.

Hill, Deborah B. 2009. Agroforestry and Non-Timber Forest Products. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, FOR-110. 2 pp.

Hill, Deborah B. 2009. Agroforestry: Alley Cropping. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, FOR-111. 2 pp.

Hill, Deborah B. 2009. Agroforestry: Riparian Buffer Strips. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, FOR-112. 2 pp.

Hill, Deborah B. 2009. Agroforestry: Silvopasture. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, FOR-113. 2 pp.

Hill, Deborah B. 2009. Agroforestry: Windbreaks. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, FOR-114. 2 pp.

Hill, Deborah B. 2009. Agroforestry: Forest Farming. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, FOR-115. 2 pp.

Hill, Deborah B. 2009. Agroforestry: Christmas Trees. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, FOR-116. 3 pp.

Hill, Deborah B. 2009. Agroforestry: Medicinal Plants. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, FOR-117. 3 pp

Hill, D.B., and J. Stringer. 2009. Selling Black Walnuts in Kentucky. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry. FORFS 09-04.1 pp.

Olszowy, D., and J. Stringer. 2009. Woodland Health. Kentucky Woodlands Magazine 4(1): 1-4.

Stringer, J. 2009. Use a Shelterwood to Improve Oak Regeneration (Part 1). The Forestry Source 14(11): 14.

Stringer, J. 2009. Wildfire and Woodlands: Assessing and Reducing Risk. Kentucky Woodlands Magazine 4(2): 1-4.

McLaren, D., and J. Stringer. 2009. Forestry 101: Aging Trees. Kentucky Woodlands Magazine 4(2): 16-17.

Stringer, J., Ammerman, B., Fackler, C., and J. Collins. 2009. Forestry Emerald Ash Borer, Industry Note July 2009: Cutting and Hauling Ash Logs. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry, FORFS 09-07. 2pp.

Stringer, J. 2009. Ice Damage, Safety in the Woods. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry, FORFS 09-01. 2pp.

Stringer, J. 2009. Ice Damage, Timber Salvage Decisions. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry, FORFS 09-02. 2pp.

Stringer, J. 2009. Ice Damage, Managing Woodland Damage and Health. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry, FORFS 09-03. 2pp.

Stringer, J., Clatterbuck, W., and J. Seifert. 2009. Site Preparation and Competition Control Guidelines for Hardwood Tree Plantings. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, FOR 107. 35pp.

Stringer, J. 2008. Timber Trespass and Theft,Quick Reference. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry, FORFS 08-03.2pp.

Stringer, J. 2009. Silvicultural Prescriptions for Degraded Hardwood Stands. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry. FORTM 09-01.113pp.

Stringer, J. 2009. Intermediate Hardwood Stand Management, pp. 161-182, In: Woodlands Management Course: A Guide to Improving Our Forests, Ed. Hardin, P. The Forest Landowner Foundation, Atlanta GA.

Stringer, J. 2009. Invasive Plant Hit List: Chinese Silver Grass. Kentucky Woodlands Magazine 4(2): 10-11.

Stringer, J. 2009. Evaluating Ice Damage. Kentucky Woodlands Magazine 4(1): 6-7.

Thomas, B., and J. Stringer. 2009. Woodland Management Tools. Kentucky Woodlands Magazine 4(2): 18-19.

Thomas, B., and J. Stringer. 2009. Basics of Pine Management. Kentucky Woodlands Magazine 3(3): 8-11.

Wirzba, N. and T. Barnes 2009. The Gift of Creation Images from Scripture and Earth, Acclaim Press, Morley, MO.